Long overdue fuel filter

[TerryB]

After about 5 1/2 years and roughly over 50,000 miles, I finally changed my fuel filter. I have no idea if it was ever changed before I bought the car in 2006, but it had a Motorcraft filter in it. I have no idea what color the filter element is suppose to be, but I cut up the old filter to check. Of course all kinds of brown stuff came out of the pre-filter side. The side going to the motor looked pretty clean. I tried a search for the element before use, but couldn't find one. I put in a Purolator filter. Here's what mine looks like after cutting it open. I'm sure the bottom of my fuel pump looks the same.

[Sponsor]

[Indy'sexclusiveZx3]

I'm surprised you car was running right

[matmatician]

Yeah dude... I wouldn't recommend doing that again. The filter element is probably gonna look pretty cruddy, but 50k miles is pretty darn high.

[TerryB]

I'm sure it's more than that. That's how far I've gone since I bought it in 2006. And it hasn't been running that great either. I'm still getting 28 MPG around town, but it's just not the same lately. I did plugs, wires, and coil also.

[macdiesel]

Damn, that's dirty. Hate to think what the bag filter on the pump would look like.

[mikebontoft]

did you blow through it?

be glad you did it now and not when it finally killed the pump.... that's a huge cause of fuel pump failure, clogged filters.

[TerryB]

No I didn't. I know it was alot heavier than the new one. Even after getting the rest of the fuel out of it. I did plan on doing the pump around the same time. But I wrecked my back at work and couldn't do much. Actually, my son did the replacement for me and I was his gopher for a change. I took it out for a fews hours today. I didn't notice much difference, but I know it's a maintenance issue I put off for too long. When I feel better, I'll get to the pump.